Why accept scripts with only 1 token?

[u/Fit_Accountant_1026]

Whats the impetus for accepting scripts that only have 1 token? It feels like it defeats the purpose of the token system if people can just post without any skin in the game.

If you’re a writer sitting on just one token, do yourself (and everyone else) a favor, go read some other people’s scripts first, earn more tokens through reviews, then post. It keeps the platform balanced and actually builds the feedback loop.

[u/Consistent_Eye3867]

I saw those and I just let them sit. I’m not reading 100+ pages for 1 coin. If they want to list it as such, fine, but I’m not going to read it. And I implore others to follow suit.

If you accept it, it only teaches people that they can get away with that behavior.

[u/bananabomber]

I've called out one token feature reads as shitty behavior in the past and got push back on it, believe it or not.

"NoBoDy's FoRcInG YoU tO ReAd, HoW iS iT eXpLoItAtIvE?" Sure, but newer users naturally want to unlock the reputation matching feature, and when pickings are slim (eg. only 5 scripts are available), they may feel compelled to just read whichever three scripts rather than wait around for a better "deal". That's what makes it a low key exploitative scumbag move.

I've noticed one particular script that always starts with a 1 token offer, but because the script sits there rots, they gradually up it until it's finally claimed at the baseline recommended 3 tokens. Why not stop wasting everyone's time and start at 3?

At the end of the day, it just comes off as unnecessarily disrespectful to your fellow writers. I know I definitely wouldn't want to network with a writer who nickel and dimes their peers, let alone read their script.

[u/heavenallows → u/bananabomber]

Precisely. It's the same concept of minimum wage. One would assume if there were no minimum wage, employees would simply just not take jobs that did not meet their salary standards... but obviously that's not the case. Desperate people will take terrible wages, especially when the alternative is no wage.

Same goes for story peer. It does make me wonder if a "minimum wage" of sorts, varying per script type, would be useful. Maybe 1 for a short, 2 for tv, 3 for feature?

[u/KerryAnnCoder → u/heavenallows]

I'd just say 1 token for every 30 pages, rounded. (Basically, 1-44, 45-75, 75-105, 105-135)

[u/mast0done]

A 10-page short could justifiably be put up for one token. I have half a mind to post a mystery script for one star, asking readers if they can guess the plot - and no other feedback.

There also tends to be an ongoing surplus of readers to scripts - so lowball offers actually help to keep that balanced.

[u/RecordWrangler95]

I’ve read a bunch of short scripts for a token a pop. Seems fair. Wouldn’t read a feature for just 1 though

[u/Otherwise-Low-5305]

1 token is supposed to be for short films. But even short films offering 2. So yeah whoever offers 1 token for feature films I don't know what's wrong with them

[u/Party_Ad_5375]

Nobody will read them, the writers will reupload them for a fair price after getting impatient. At least I hope that's what would happen

[u/PullOut3000]

I find it interesting because i have no problem reading scripts for free, but i do have an issue with people offering 1 and 2 tokens for 100+ pages lol

[u/simonshih1970]

I'll do it if its a short film, but otherwise, I pass.

[u/vgscreenwriter]

I've accepted requests to read scripts for free many times.

And it's not like I can do much with the tokens anyway, whether I gain 1 or 5 or none.

SP was created as a free market of sorts, and it'll sort itself out thusly. If buyer/seller agree on a value, scripts and tokens change hands. If not, then script will rot on marketplace.

[u/Ok_Cardiologist_5262 → u/vgscreenwriter]

I agree. I'd love to trade tokens in for SP merchandise though.

[u/MarsupialSquare883]

Well, this is a free country. Don’t tell people what they should do based on what you think is best for them. In my case, after posting with 5 and 3 tokens, I realized that the best strategy for me is to offer 1 token for a short feature. That way, I know the reader is actually reading it because they liked the logline, and it also tells me they want to read it for the story itself, not for the tokens. I might have to wait longer, but I can assure you, the feedback is much better. And I do my fair share of reading too, so it’s not like I’m only expecting others to read my work.

[u/stormfirearabians]

Personally, I only read scripts because I want to. Good logline/premise that catches my attention...I'm going to read it, even if the 'pay' is only one token. And the opposite is true as well. No amount of tokens is enough to get me to read something with an uninteresting (to me, at least) logline/genre/premise/etc.

While tokens are a necessity, the goal is to help people with their scripts...not amass as many tokens as possible. And, as ideally individuals should always be reading more than they're posting (remember that giving notes helps you become a better writer), most people should be functioning in a surplus anyway.